Music Instruction- Voice and Beginning Piano and Guitar
Ami has been teaching Voice, Piano and Guitar at Activator Academy since the opening of the new CROYA Student Union. She is very thankful for the opportunity to work in such an exciting environment. She is a 2008 graduate of Lake Forest College with a double major in Music and Communication.  During the day she works at the First Presbyterian Preschool as the Music Teacher and babysits for an amazing family of 5 children!  While she enjoys working with children of all ages, teaching the fundamentals of music to beginners is her specialty.

Music Instructor-
Ever since the age of twelve Joe has been grinding out jazzy tunes. While some kids were jumping in puddles, or stealing third, he was diving head first into the world of music. Currently a senior at Lake Forest College, he studies music y el español. He began playing piano at age five and trumpet at the age of ten. Frequently, famous jazz bands request his presence in their ensembles, but he turns them down so that he can teach local kids. "No thanks Sonny Rollins, I don’t need a million bucks right now," says Joe. He does, however, actually find the time to play in his school's jazz ensemble and other such academic opportunities for accompaniment.

Homework Hub Mentor - Favorite Subjects: Spanish
Joe Yeo is a Spanish and Music major at Lake Forest College. With a 3.9 GPA going into his senior year, Joe has taken a variety of Spanish courses which include Literature and History in the Hispanic World, Translation, and Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language. He was a devoted member of the National Spanish Honor Society in high school, and he was inducted into Phi Sigma Iota (the foreign language honor society at Lake Forest College) his sophomore year. Having study abroad in Granada, Spain, for a full semester, Joe plans to become a Spanish teacher for high school students one day.

Music Instruction - Guitar (electric, acoustic, classical) and Beginning Banjo
Aidan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lake Forest College with a degree in Music with a focus on composition.  He also minored in Physics and Philosophy and was awarded with Honors in Music and acceptance into Phi Beta Kappa.  Aidan has been playing guitar for over 12 years, ranging in genres from rock to folk to pop to classical.  At Lake Forest College, Aidan played lead guitar in the Chamber Orchestra where they played a rendition of Sufjan Steven's Illinoise album and a large portion of his own senior thesis entitled "100 rabbits will never be a horse" which he is currently working on a recording.  He has played in numerous bands, toured parts of the US, been featured on several recordings, and performed countless times in the Chicago area. He has been teaching at the Activator Academy for over a year and a half and absolutely loves it.

Homework Hub Mentor - Favorite Subjects: Math and Physics
Aidan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lake Forest College with a degree in Music with a focus on composition. He is also minored in Physics and Philosophy and was awarded with Honors in Music and acceptance into Phi Beta Kappa.  

 
Music Instructor - Bass Guitar, Saxophone, Tuba, Baritone/Euphonium
Mike Knish is a multi-faceted musician and graduate of Lake Forest College.  He has studied and played the saxophone (13 years), the tuba (9 years) the baritone/euphonium (9 years), and the electric bass (5 years). In high school, Mike performed in jazz band, wind ensemble, marching band, All-State Honor Band, and solo tuba in Indiana All-State Orchestra.  For 2 years before he transferred to Lake Forest College, he attended the University of North Texas where he studied music education, tuba performance, jazz saxophone, and jazz bass.  He was also in the UNT Symphonic Band, marching band, and tuba ensemble. He also played bass in a punk rock band based in Denton, Texas called Teenage Cool Kids.  Over recent summers, Mike has played tuba in various municipal bands and the South Shore Brass Band.  

Homework Hub Mentor- Favorite Subjects: Math, Science, Spanish, Writing
Mike Knish is a 2009 graduate of Lake Forest College. He holds a B.A. degree in music, and was also a philosophy major for a year at the University of North Texas. Mike enjoys the subjects of math, science, and spanish the most, but his philosophy classes gave him great experience in writing. Mike feels that he personally learns best by doing and trying, instead of thinking and brewing. He also believes that it's particularly helpful if you go to class. Mike also enjoys comedy and always finds positive, encouraging ways to help students learn while having fun in the process. 

 Available: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday

Available Tuesdays and Thursdays 

 Music Instruction: Guitar and Harmonica 

 
Music Instructor - Electronica & Keyboard, Drums, Bass Guitar, Beginning Guitar
Brian Kedzorski is a graduate of Lake Forest College majoring in English and Music. He plays bass guitar, drums, and works with a variety of drum machines, synthesizers, and other electronic instruments. He plays in a band called the New Generation Dudes, an electro-rock act from the outer realms of the galaxy, and solo as BK, composing his own dance tracks and DJ'ing. He is also a music director at the college's radio station, WMXM 88.9 FM, and an avid skateboarder. He has an open ear for just about any form of music, but grew up on the Beatles and classic rock and is especially inclined toward hip-hop and house music. 

Music Instruction - Voice, Piano, French Horn
Kate Otto is a graduate of Lake Forest College with a B.A. in Music and Elementary Education.  She is a teacher in the Waukegan Public School system and has previously taught in Lake Bluff District 65.  She is a long time member of the staff of Activator Academy as a piano, voice, and french horn instructor, and she has been studying each since the age of 10, 7, and 11, respectively.  As a child, Kate was a member of the Colorado Children's Chorale, a professional children's choir which allowed her to travel all over the world. She was also chosen to sing the National Anthem at a Colorado Rockies game when she was twelve (she is a Denver native).  She has a lot of experience with children, both in and out and the classroom, and loves teaching, both in the academic and music environment. 

Available Monday-Thursday 

Music Instruction- Guitar 

Music Instruction - Guitar (electric and acoustic)
Nick is student at Depaul University and has been playing guitar since elementary school. He is also founder, lead guitarist, songwriter, recording artist, and vocalist for the local band – Spaceman Jackson. Spaceman has performed in many local events/venues including the CROYA Battle of the Bands, Lake Forest Days, Lake Bluff Village Green, Lake Bluff Skate Park and the CROYA Main Stage. His high energy level and love of music compliment his technical talents. Nick is a real "guitar hero" and a former student of Nick Christofalos. 

Music Instruction: Drums, Guitar, Bass. Also Program Co-Director & Recording Studio Manager/Engineer/Producer

 
Music Instruction - Piano & Voice
Alaina, hailing from Racine, Wisconsin, has been studying piano since she was seven, and has since added voice to her studies. In high school, she won awards from the Racine and Kenosha Piano Teachers Associations for her performances in various competitions on classical piano. She also gained recognition for her work in both solo and ensemble vocal performances on the district and state levels throughout high school, as well as in nation-wide Heritage music festivals held in San Francisco and New York. She currently attends Lake Forest College, and is majoring in music, hoping to pursue vocal performance. Her piano repertoire has been mainly classical, although she is open to many styles and always willing to learn more! She pretty much likes to sing anything, though she continues to be classically trained in that area, as well. Her personal musical taste is quite varied, ranging from Mozart, classic rock, 'oldies,' hip hop, dance, 'indie' rock, R&B, jazz - pretty much anything that catches her ear. She is excited about returning this fall to the teaching staff of Activator Academy as a piano and voice instructor, and is eager to share her musical knowledge and appreciation with young people in the community.

Homework Hub Mentor- Favorite Subjects: Math, Science, writing, and Psychology
Julia is a sophomore at Lake Forest College who is majoring in Business with a minor in Psychology. She is very logical, and from her studies in Psychology she has learned that everyone studies differently, the trick is to find the best way for you. She believes that organization is the key to success, and is happy to help organize others. She carried a 4.0 GPA throughout high school, and now has at 3.3 GPA at Lake Forest College. She also served on her high school's Honor Council, and is a Leadership Scholar at Lake Forest College. She understands the pressures of life, but believes through organization, desire to do well, and attending class everyone has the ability to succeed.

 
Music Instruction - Voice
Born and raised in Chicago, Ryan has been singing since he was five. He has received many awards and honors in competition in the Concert Choir at Walter Payton College Prep in Chicago, and was a member of the Sounds of Sweetness, a men’s barbershop ensemble.  He has performed frequently in the Chicago region and beyond, including a concert at The Drake Hotel in Chicago, multiple spots on NBC News, and a pre-Olympic Celebration Tour in Shanghai and Beijing. Ryan is currently enrolled in Lake Forest College, where he is majoring in Music and Psychology.  Even though he is classically trained in voice, Ryan was raised on Gospel music and “Old School” R&B and he loves to sing any music he can get his hands on. This is his first year with Activator Academy and he is very excited to share his experience and, hopefully, kindle a love of music in the hearts of young people.